Safety valve and muffler.



No. 656,237. Patented Aug. 2|, I900.

W. E. WOOD.

SAFETY VALVE AND MUFFLER.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

E awe/Mom No. 656,237. Patented Aug. 21, I900.

' W. E. WOOD.

SAFETY VALVE AND MUFFLER.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.)

"(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shaet 2.

0 0 W m n u A d e t n e l a P D 0 0 W .L w. 7 3 6 5 6 0 N SAFETY VALVEAND MUFFLER.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.)

4 Sheets Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

whim Lumen v (lttozmyy No. 656,237. [Patented Aug. 2|, I900. w. E. woon.

SAFETY VALVE AND MUFFLER.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1699.] (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

VILLIAM E. l/VOOD, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

SAFETY VALVE AND MUFFLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,237, dated August21, 1900.

Application filed October 4:, 1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM E. WOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of N ewYork, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Valves andMufliers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,andexact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in safety valve and mufflerforsteam-engine, and has for its object to simplify the construction,muffle or reduce the noise of discharge, adjust at a convenient pointthe period of closing, to provide a simple means for looking alladjustments sim ultaneous1y,to provide a simple and effective means ofpopping the valve by hand and for fastening the same open when desired,and generally to reduce the cost of manufacture.

The invention consists, first, in the combination of a casingsurrounding the valve, having openings therein adjustably connected withthe main body, a square or irregular shaped central opening in saidcasing, a spindle provided with an enlargement corresponding to theopening and loosely engaging the same, and means located outside themain body whereby the spindle may be rotated to raise or lower thecasing relative to the valve and main body,wl1ile permitting the freelongitudinal movement of the spindle.

It consists, further, in a combined muffler and blow-down ring forsafety-valve provided with a threaded portion to engage a similar threadon the main body and means for imparting a rotary motion to the ring toraise and lower the same relative to the valve, and in certain othernovel features in the construction and arrangement of parts, all ashereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section through acasing, showing my invention as applied to stationary or marine type ofengines. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the preferred form as applied tolocomotives. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the form as applied to portableor farm engines. Fig. 4 is a similar view wherein the-valve is providedwith an annular ring on its outer face Serial No. 782,535. (No model.)

telescopically engaging a similar ring on the muffier or blow-down toprevent steam-pressure from acting on the top of the valve. Fig. 5 showsone form of muffler-shell or blowdown having a series of openings formedtherein and covered with wire-cloth or perforated metal. Fig. 6 is aview of one form of outer muifler, showing the wire-cloth or perforatedmetal. Figs. 7, 8, and 10 are plan or top views showing different formsof devices for popping the valve by hand and also for locking the partsin position when properly adjusted. Fig. 9 is a plan or top view of theouter muffler-shell, as shown in Fig. 2.

The valve bodyor casing A, as shown in Fig. 1, is particularly designedfor use with a stationary or marine type of engine and is providedwiththe inlet-opening A and outlet A The valve-seat B is mounted in thecasing and secured in position by means of screwthreads in the usual orother preferred man ner.

The upper portion of the casing consists of a cap-plate 0, having castintegrally therewith a tubular portion 0'', which extends well down intothe casing, as shown in Fig. 1, and to the end of which is attached, bymeans of a screw connection, the mufiier D, the latter being providedwith a socket for the reception of said tubular portion, the socketbeing of sufficient depth to permit vertical adjustment of the combinedmuffler and blow-down ring.

E designates the valve, and E the annular seat therefor, the said seatbeing screwed into a horizontal diaphragm in the lower part of thecasing. The valve E is formed with a socket c, in which is stepped thelower end of a rod E which extends up within the tubu lar portion 0 andthrough the top thereof, as shown. Said rod is movable longitudinally,and it has near its lower end an angular (preferably square)enlargements, which fits loosely in a correspondingly-shaped openingprovided therefor in the muffler D. Immediately above said enlargementc, within the lower end of the tubular portion C, is a collar F, looselymounted on the rod E and in the top of said tubular portion is a similarcollar F.

said collars F F to press the rod E down and A coiled spring G actsbetween a close the valve, the collar F being seated on the enlargemente and the collar F against the top of the casing.

As a means for adjusting the tension of the spring G a tubular screw f,through which the rod E extends, is fitted in the upper part of thecasing and the end thereof has abearing on the upper collar F. Byadjusting this screw up or down the tension of the spring may be variedat will to hold the valve to its seat with increased or diminishedpressure.

It is often desirable to blow or pop the valve by hand, and for thispurpose a lever II is provided. This lever is fulcrumed at 72/ inbracket arms or standards It at the top of the casing, and one endthereof is forked (see Fig. 8) and embraces the rod E between thetubular screwf and a nut f on the upper end of the rod, the other endextending down at the side of the tubular portion of the easing. It maybe operated by any suitable means to release the valve; but in thedrawings I show a second lever 11, fulcrumed at k in bracket arms orstandards 77, on the easing. The long arm of this lever extends down atthe side of thecasing and is formed with an eye 7L5 or other equivalentmeans for the convenient attachment of a line or rod, (not shown,)whereby it may be operated from a distance. The upper arm is bent overtoward the lever H and works against the same to operate it and releasethe valve. Preferably the lever H carries at its upper end anantifrict-ion-roller h, which contributes toward smoothness of operationand prevents rubbing and grinding in case the parts become rusty. Thearrangement of the two levers is such that when the lever II is operatedto the full limit of its movement the arm working against the lever Hpasses a central line of minimum resistance-that is to say, a pointwhere the direction of resistance changes after which the force of thespring G holds the parts against a return movement until the lever I1 ismoved back by hand past said central position, whereupon the spring byexpansion returns the two levers to their original or normal positionand seats the valve.

It will be understood that the lever H may be provided with a push-rodor be operated directly by hand, the lever II in such case beingomitted; but I prefer the arrangement described, for the reason that itprovides a means for setting the parts in blow-off position and forholding them in such position as long as desired without any attentionfrom the engineer or attendant.

To enable the hollow screw f to be conveniently adjusted, it is providedwith an angular hea-df, either square or hexagonal, for the applicationof a wrench thereto, and the nut f is of similar shape and ofcorresponding size. In order to prevent said screw and nut from turningto disturbthe adjustment, the forked end of the lever H is made broadenough to entirely cover both the head f and the nut f and the sides ofthe arms are provided with flanges h, which closely embrace both nut andhead, so that neither of these parts can turn to disturb the adjustmentso long as the lever II is in place.

The muffler D is in the form of a cage, comprising an upper plate d,which is connected with the tubular portion 0' of the casing, as alreadyexplained, a lower annular blowdown ring d, which fits around andclosely embraces the valve-seat l3 and is connected with the plate d byaseries of ribs or bars d and a series of rings (i attached to andsupported by said ribs or bars (F, the whole forming a cylindrical cage,into which the steam is discharged on the opening of the valve and fromwhich it escapes through the narrow openings between the rings (1 intothe annular space between the cage and the walls of the valve casing,being broken up and divided in its passage from the cage, whereby thenoise of discharge is muffled or deadened.

The cage or muffler D may be formed in various ways. In the form shownin Fig. 1 it is conveniently made by casting as a solid shell, with theribs (6 projecting from the inner wall, and then cutting through theshell circumferentially down to but not through the ribs (1 to form therings (1 all the parts being thus integral with each other, or the partsmay be formed separately and united in any known or approved manner, asby welding, brazing, or riveting, or instead of cutting through to formrings (1, as described, the muffler may be cast in the form of a shell,with or Without the ribs (1 and then bored or perforated, as shown inFigs. 3 and at. In stead of boring the perforations, as suggested, thesame may be formed by casting. Also, while Figs. 1, 3, and 4 showopenings only in the side or cylindrical walls it is clear that they maybe formed also in the top and bottom plates, and in Figs. 5, 6, and 9,which represent plan views, 1 show them formed in the top plates, Figs.5 and 6 showing openings of largersize covered by wire netting or gauze.It is to be understood that however the openings may be formed ordisposed or whether they be large or small they may be covered in wholeor in part by wire netting or gauze.

The angular enlargement on the rod E serves as a means for verticallyadjusting the muffler D, as by turning the rod, which may be effected bythe use of any appropriate wrench or other tool applied to the upperprojecting end, the muffler will also be turned, and it may thus bescrewed up or down to effect a vertical adjustment on the tubularsupport 0.

The valve and muffler shown in Figs. 1 and t is designed more especiallyfor stationary or marine engines. In Fig. 2 I show a modifiedconstruction designed for use on locomotives and differing fromthatshown in Fig. 1 in that the lever H is omitted and the shape andconstruction of the valve-casing somewhat varied. The ease A has theinlet-opcning A at the bottom; but in place of the outlet-opening A Iform in the upper part of the case, around the tubular portion a largenumber of openings a, through which the steam escapes freely to the openair. In this view I show a valve-seat B integral with the case in placeof the removable seat shown in Fig. 1; otherwise the construction issimilar to that first described.

I designates a protecting cap or housing hinged to the top of the casingat t' and adapted to be turned or folded back. This housing affordsprotection for the coupling between the rod E and the lever II. It maybe made to closely embrace the nut f on the rod E and the head f of theadjusting-screwfto prevent the same from turning and disarranging theadjustment.

In Fig. 3 I show a further modification designed for use on portable orfarm engines. In this construction the tubular portion 0 of the case inwhich the spring is housed is entirely above the case and does notextend down into the latter, as in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 4. The valve-seat, the valve, the rod E the spring for closing thevalve, and the means for adjusting the tension of the spring are allconstructed and arranged substantially as above described; but. in thisinstance the combined muffier and blow-down ring D consists of aninverted cup,the mouth or open end of which is screwed into the body ofthe casing around the valve. It is vertically adjustable, the adjustmentbeing effected through the rod E in the manner already described. Theupper end of the tubular extension 0 of the case is formed with ashoulder j, and on said shoulder is mounted an open tubular extension J,the upper end of which is reduced in size and shaped to fit the nut orhead f so as to hold and prevent the latter from turning. The extensionJ has an opening in one side for the reception of the lever B, which ispivoted or fulcrumed at the opposite side at j, the lever being forked,as before, to straddle the rod E WVhile I have described the part f as anut on the upper end of the rod E it is to be understood that the rodmay be formed with a solid or integral beaded nut. It is also to beunderstood that while I have described the different forms ormodifications as being designed for different types of engines, eitherform may be applied to any other type of engine, this being a merematter of use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a safety-valve, thecombination of the valve, a muffler, a blow-down ring at one end of saidmuffler surrounding the valve, and means at the other end for supportingand adjusting said ring.

2. In a safety-valve, the combination with the valve-casing and itsvalve, of the combined blow-down ring and mufiier adjustable in thecasing in the direction of movement of the valve, and means foradjusting said ring and muffler from the exterior of the casing.

3. In a pop safety-valve, the combination with the valve and with theblow-down ring the latter being adj ustable,of a spring-pressed spindlestepped on the valve to close the same, and having operative connectionwith the blow-down ring, to adjust the latter, said spindle having anangular head, of a lever for lifting the spindle, with means thereon forengaging the angular head to prevent rotation of the spindle.

4. In a safety-valve, the combination with the valve-casing and itsvalve, of a longitudinally-movable and rotatable rod or stem stepped onthe valve and extending through the casing, a spring acting on said rodor stem to close the valve, and a blow-down ring adjustable in thedirection of movement of the valve and operatively connected with saidrod or stem whereby said ring is adapted to be rotated to adjust thesame from the exterior of the casing.

5. In a safety-valve, the combination with the valve-casing and itsvalve, of a blow down ring surrounding the valve and having screwconnection with the casing whereby it is adapted to be adjusted in thedirection of movement of the valve, a stem or spindle stepped on thevalve, a spring acting on said stem to close the valve, said ring andstem having sliding and non-rotatable connection relatively to eachother, whereby the ring is adapted to be adjusted by rotating the stem.

6. In a safety-valve, the combination with the valve-casing and itsvalve, of a blowdown ring having screw connection with the casing,whereby it is adjustable relatively to the valve, and a stem or spindleextending through the casin g and having operative connection with saidring, whereby adjustment of the latter may be effected from the exteriorof the casing.

77. In a safety-valve, the combination of an adjustable ring surroundingthe outer circumference of the valve, a series of arms or perforatedwall connected with a central portion, having an irregular-shapedopening at its axis, a threaded portion formed on the casing engaging acorresponding thread formed with the arms or wall, a central spindleformed to fit and engage the irregular-shaped opening for imparting arotary motion to the arms and permitting a vertical motion of thespindle, and means for turning the spindle at the top and outside thevalve-casing substantially as described.

8. In a safety-valve, the combination with the valve and its casing, alongitudinallymovable rod stepped on the valve and projecting from thecasing, a spring acting on said rod to close the valve and projectingfrom the casing, a spring acting on said rod to close the valve, a levermounted on the case and operatively connected with said rod to relievethe valve, and a lever of the first order fulcrumed on the casing foroperating lever bearing such relaits operative end passes the first saidsecond tion to the first that ICC IIO

1o scribed, whereby the end of the short arm may pass the cleaclcenterbetween the secondary and primary lever, and engage the stop as setforth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

W ILLIAM E. \V O O D XVitnesses:

RALPH G. HARMON, ALLEN G. Wool).

